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Nigerian Lawmakers Approve State Police Bill

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The House of Representatives has successfully passed constitutional amendments aimed at establishing state police in Nigeria.

During the voting process, 289 members supported the bill, while 1 member opposed it, for a total of 290 votes cast with no abstentions.

Before the voting session, the leadership recalled all lawmakers on oversight assignments to Abuja to meet the required quorum for the constitutional vote. Other proposed amendments have been deferred to a later legislative session for further consideration.

The legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to provide for the establishment of state police, and for related matters (Sixth Alteration) 2026,” is jointly sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, Fatima Talba, Blessing Onuh, Tolani Shagaya, and several other lawmakers.

Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, confirmed that the lower chamber deliberately resolved to prioritize decentralized policing over other thematic reforms due to the persistent wave of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping across the country.

Currently, policing is contained within the Exclusive Legislative List, reserving all law enforcement authority solely for the Federal Government. The newly passed amendment will move policing to the Concurrent Legislative List, granting state governments the legal authority to establish, fund, and manage independent police formations within their territories.